It's 'business as usual' despite travellers at Leisure World Colchester

The group set up camp in the car park of Colchester Leisure World in Cowdray Avenue over the weekend.

The camp were still there yesterday afternoon.

A Colchester Council spokesman said: “Both the police and the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit have been informed.

“The traveller unit will visit the site to carry out initial welfare checks.

“If there are no immediate welfare or health concerns, such as pregnancy or illness requiring medical supervision, the travellers will be asked to leave the site.

“If the travellers don’t leave, we’ll need to go through the courts to ensure their removal.

“If we have to apply for a court order, the procedure will take between seven and ten days.”

The spokesman added: “There is no impact on visitor numbers and it remains business as usual at Leisure World.”

Just two weeks ago, the council took action against an illegal encampment on the King George playing fields in Lexden.

The 11 caravans sparked concerns over cold calling but also calls for more legal pitches from the travellers themselves.

Speaking to the Gazette, the man, who had lived in Essex with his family for 25 years, said hard-working and harmless travellers are being given a bad reputation “because of the actions of a few”.

READ MORE: 'WE NEED MORE RIGHTS AND LEGAL PITCHES'

In May, Essex police enforced its Section 61 powers to order a group to leave Colchester Rugby Club’s grounds in Mill Road, after they forced their way on to the pitch.

The damage and clear-up was estimated to cost about £3,000 to put right.

This was after a handful of caravans made their home at the former Seapets site in Tollgate Road, Stanway.

READ MORE: TRAVELLERS TAKE OVER COLCHESTER RUGBY CLUB